I got into the building just after 4:30 in the afternoon, said hello to Junior and Tim Major, who were working the desk at the time, and then found Mike Litchfield’s family bowling w/ Steve Travers watching on. Later, when I spotted Rob Dickens at the desk, I asked him if I could join him on the lanes (I would’ve hated bowling by myself on this day.) and joined him with my equipment in hand on one of the lanes after he agreed.
Rob and I were being semi-competitive, with Rob forcing me to mark in the 10th in the first game, which I accomplished with a first-ball strike. Rob found his line while I struggled in the second game. It was really a game over 200 that I wanted on this day, however, and I got that in the third game with a 214. The last game was another mark-to-win situation for me, and, again, I sealed it with a first-ball strike. Just as a note, I was playing around the 28 and 29 board in my stance much of the time, which is as deep inside as I’ve ever played these lanes, and started feeling comfortable playing in there. I’m also sure Steve Travers saw at least one of my strikes, though he also claims knowing I was going to get a ringing 10 on one of my shots. 😉
I was hoping to stay around for the Friday night TNBA league (at least the start of it) and my cousins, but I really felt like getting back home and eating dinner, though there was a free buffet in the pub. I also wished Harry Minassian Sr., the owner, a happy anniversary before I left. As a parting note, I also saw Eileen, one of my new teammates, bowling, and she had a game in the 160s during her time, so she’s starting to get the hang of it, at least when it doesn’t count.
The Tenth Board 